Officers of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) detained a deputy of the Lviv Regional Council and his accomplice, who serves as a deputy mayor in one of the region’s territorial communities. The suspects attempted to unlawfully seize 1.2 million UAH from a local entrepreneur.
According to the investigation, the fraudsters initially offered the businessman assistance in winning a construction tender in the region. However, the entrepreneur declined their services. After the businessman independently secured the tender victory, the suspects falsely claimed credit for his success and aggressively demanded a share of the profits.
The arrest took place while the suspects were receiving 25,000 USD and 190,000 UAH, which they coerced from the entrepreneur as “compensation.”
Law enforcement charged the detainees with fraud committed by a group of persons through prior collusion in an especially large amount, under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
This article stipulates a penalty of up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. The court is currently deliberating on pre-trial detention measures for the suspects.
The case is being overseen by the Office of the Prosecutor General.